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As President Obama's first 100 days near completion, the question is: Where do you think we are as a nation? The pundits and pollsters and press will try to steal the limelight by pontificating endlessly and giving us their prognostications. Let them do their thing, and in the meantime let us think for ourselves. Take the First 100 Days Citizen Test below, and let me know where you think we are.
For many people Barack Obama's election last November signaled a dramatic change in the direction and tone of American politics. In fact, in the last month or so, I've been with civic leaders from numerous other countries, and many felt compelled to tell me how positive they feel about the U.S. now that Obama is in office.
Since before his inauguration, Obama set out to aggressively put forth his agenda. Action has been taken, or initiated, on a whole host of fronts -- including the financial bailout, the stimulus package, auto-company supports, health care, and various foreign policy shifts from closing Guantanamo to ending torture to sending new signals to Iran.
For sure there's lots of action, maybe even more than any president since Franklin Roosevelt. But what do you make of it? The president ran on the notion of "hope and change," how are we doing? Here are some questions that I hope you'll consider about the president and his administration's first 100 days:
1. Do you believe the nation is moving in the right direction and, if so, what do you point to?
2. To what extent do you feel the first 100 days is generating "authentic hope," and to what extent do you see "false hope?"
3. Is your confidence in the ability of government to act effectively growing or not -- and why?
4. How do you feel about those who have different views from the president: are they providing an effective opposing voice -- and, if not, what would make them more effective in terms of a healthy public debate?
5. Do you feel there is emerging common ground among people about how the country needs to move forward?
The reason why I believe questions like these are important is because when change occurs, it is often hard to see, confusing to interpret, and for every couple of steps forward there are steps backward. So, on balance, what do you make of what's happening? How does this current period feel for you?
You can answer one or all of the questions I posed. But I urge you to think about them. And I also encourage you to use them with others -- at a staff meeting, in a book club, with others at your place of worship, around the dinner table.
We'll all hear a lot from those who get paid to give us their opinions. For sure, it makes sense to factor those voices into our own thoughts. But they ought not to serve as a substitute for own thinking and judgment.
For me, my goal is to find ways to make hope real for every person in America. Such change won't happen overnight, but are we on the right path?
Take the First 100 Days Citizen Test, and let me and others know what you're thinking.
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Re: Take the Obama 100 Days Citizen TestMay 5, 2009 | Laurrie1) Yes, I think the country is moving toward building a better country. President Obama is able to articulate his policies well. And they are policies that will enable people to have a stake in their community, their state and the country at large. I hear people saying "What can I do to help?" 2) The stimulus package for the states and the individual citizens gives hope to a broad segment that the government is caring. This is a major shift from the Bush era of care for the wealthy only. There is also a higher regard for our constitution and the laws of the country. I would like to see more imput from citizens on changes and the future, something like the study citizen study groups in the Scandanavian countrie. It is difficult for people to learn enough from sound bites to make good decisions and to hold the government to working for them. 3) The Republicans not voting for any of the legislation put forward by the administration is a sad and wrongheadedness on their part. (And I am a life long Republican - Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt - not Bush) It will take all of us working together to improve our care of the environment, children and healthcare for all, etc. No one group can do it all we need to be joined in the effort. I feel that Obama draws us together. 4) I feel that most of the opposition to Obama and the Congress putting together a new "New Deal" comes from people who have always been for the wealthy having as much as they want and for everyone else to live on the small % of money, health care, education, environment improvement for the world, etc. This imbalance needs to change. We need to work together to do this for us, our children to the seventh generation and for the world. A reasoned debate on the issues is necessary and helpful. But people need to be informed throughout the citizenry to have them.. 5) I was heartened by what Sen. Reid said at the small town meeting I attended recently. He said there is no such thing as clean coal and he was correct. I think we can come together around the following issues: Global Climate Change, Healthcare, Education, and more integrated work environments - with everyone in a company having a say in how the company is run and the setting of goals that take into account the profit to the society at large when childcare, real pay and time to do work in the community is all part of the package. It is time to rein in the obscene pay for top execs and leaving most people without a living wage. Maybe this time of stress may give us the courage and energy to make the changes that will lead to a better life of all of our citizens and a better treatment of our planet and the non-humans who share it with us.
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Re: Take the Obama 100 Days Citizen TestApr 28, 2009 | Larry Durham1. Yes, I do believe that the nation is moving in the right direction because we have a president who is candidly articulating our challenges and leading initiatives to address those challenges head-on. Examples include global climate control; STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); domestic energy independence; the domestic and global economies; medical research; domestic infrastructure; and, improving our relations with other nations around the world while maintaining national security interests.
2. My observations of fellow citizens across a broad spectrum of socio-economic situations reveal "authentic hope" based on an action-orientation directed at problems that affect all of us -- not just the affluent, power-brokers. Ironically, the most obvious "false hope" I detect is among those who are out-of-power or whose extreme positions on issues have been blunted. Indeed, I harbor authentic hope that their protestations and lamentations are ineffective and in vain. I have been gratified at the proportion of individuals who did not vote for President Obama who are rooting for him (and, therefore, our country) to succeed -- not fail! I am also "authentically hopeful" that the Obama nuclear family will have widespread influence throughout our society.
3. My confidence in the ability of government to act effectively is growing due to several things: (a) stellar cabinet and other senior appointments; (b) tough, honest decisions by the president and those senior officials (like Holder's call on former senator Ted Stevens' case); the appointment of senior officials charged with things like innovation, technology, and performance; and, (c) President Obama's poise, grasp of issues, and willingness to let people do their jobs. Unlike many pundits, I do not feel that President Obama has taken on too much to handle at one time. He obviously understands that most -- if not all -- of our major challenges are integrated. Having such a president increases my confidence in his ability to handle things "in stride" and to lead others in his administration -- and, hopefully, in Congress -- to do likewise.
4. Having views that differ from those being espoused by the president is predictable and, certainly, to be expected when political philosophies are so different. Indeed, creative tension can be a healthy condition if it leads to better legislation, more efficient and effective government programs, and a stronger union. However, the acrimonious chorus being put forth by the Republican Party at this writing has gone far beyond emulating "the loyal opposition" of the UK parliamentary model. The sanctimonius "Religious Right" -- supposedly the "core" of the Republican Party -- assured that Senator Obama would become President Obama. Countless folks like me fled the Republican ranks like rats leaving a sinking ship. For the Republicans to stand a chance of recovering any time soon, that "fundamentalist evangelical zeal" had best be converted from hypocrisy to democracy. It seems that at least three things are needed to generate a more effective and healthier "public debate": sincere, civil deliberation; viable alternatives to consider; and, willingness to make reasonable compromises.
5. As an eternal optimist, I do sense that there is "emerging common ground about how the country needs to move forward." In fact, I think that trend was apparent in the 2008 General Election and has continued to be reflected in national polling data. Of course, it would be naiive to ignore the impact that current economic conditions are having across the U.S. and around the world. Determining in which direction the country "needs" to move forward is infinitely easier than determining how to accomplish that goal. President Obama has become our national psychiatrist and cheerleader. If the signs of an "economic spring" continue to sprout and grow, we'll pull out of this universal malaise by the middle of next year and move on with our national agenda of recovery and renewal. If not, the "tea parties" may spread and the congressional elections of 2010 will be comprised of many hotly-contested races. Unfortunately, the Republicans seem to want that to occur. Thus, President Obama's biggest challenge may not be the swine flu, but, rather, maintaining programmatic momentum and national morale. Accordingly, his basketball savvy may yet prove to be his greatest asset (besides his family, of course). Audacious hope? Yes. Doable? Definitely. Remember, we're Americans! -
Re: Take the Obama 100 Days Citizen TestApr 28, 2009 | Rod ProffittQ&A - 1) Yes. The country was headed down almost every wrong path possible under the Bush Administration so I am thankful the country elected Obama. 2) I have followed Politifacts and other sources to see how Obama has acted on his campaign promises. He seems to be taking those actions necessary at the appropriate times, except I was disappointed in his decision to delay removal of troops from Iraq. 3) Confidence is growing. With the switch made today by Senator Spector and with the liklihood the Minnesota race will soon be determined favorably for the Democrats, I see swift action being taken more often on the President's agenda. 4) Unfortunately, I see the Republicans moving even further to the right after this election. They were marginalized in the last election, but have chosen a course to take them even further to the extreme right. Calling the President "socialist" and "faciest" adds nothing to the conversation. 5) Yes. The poll numbers favorable to Obama are holding, but if continued progress is not preceived, I fear those numbers will start to drop, which will make it harder to hold the line on the President's agenda.